ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER
90-Year-Old Dementia Patient Abused
Caregiver Arrested For Elder Abuse
Surveillance Camera Caught Abuse
Residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities are at risk of neglect and intentional abuse by the very persons who are paid to care for them. Elders under the care of in-home caregivers are at the same risk. Those who have Alzheimer’s disease or dementia are particularly vulnerable. Nearly 50% of elders with dementia experience abuse or neglect according to reports. Persons and businesses responsible for elder and dependent adult abuse or neglect can be held accountable for their acts under the California Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act, Cal. Welf. & Inst. Code § 15600 et seq. See especially Cal. Welf. & Inst. Code §§ 15610.63(definition of physical elder abuse) and 15610.57(definition of neglect). Victims may be awarded the attorneys’ fees and costs for bringing their suit in certain circumstances. Cal. Welf. & Inst. Code § 15657(a). If you have a loved one who has suffered injury due to neglect or abuse in a nursing home or care facility here in Marin County or elsewhere in California, call Evans Law Firm, Inc. at 415-441-8669, and we can help. Our toll-free number is 1-888-50EVANS (888-503-8267).
Assisted Living Facility Arrest
In a case[1] reported very recently, State authorities are investigating alleged abuse after police arrested a senior living facility caregiver and charged her with felony elder abuse of a 90-year-old resident with Alzheimer’s. A hidden camera allegedly captured several caregivers taunting the victim and one of the taunting caregivers who then grabbed the victim’s head, pulled her hair and pushed her around as the others watched. Family members told authorities they installed the hidden camera in their grandmother’s room after finding bruises on her. Their 90-year-old grandmother was originally forced out of her home because of the Caldor Fire and then sent to the senior facility. “It was very hard for me to look at those videos. They were taunting her,” said Carole Herman, president and founder of the Foundation Aiding the Elderly, or FATE.
Herman filed a complaint with the licensing division of the Department of Social Services, which now launched an investigation. “This is elder abuse. They harmed that woman to the point that she now is really suffering. It traumatized her so bad and a person with dementia like that. That is just inhumane,” Herman told police and the media. The case remains under investigation and the charges against the arrested caregiver are pending.
Recourse For Injured Residents
Families of nursing home residents can monitor the care their loved ones are (or are not) receiving in homes by cameras like in the reported case and by frequent in person visits. Bruises are, as in the reported case, may indicate intentional abuse. Other symptoms of intentional abuse or neglect include bed sores/pressure wounds, weight loss, uncleanliness, excessive drowsiness and sleeping, or behavioral changes like withdrawal or silence, confusion, or fear of certain staff members. If you see any signs whatsoever of abuse or neglect, do something about it. Seek counsel regarding possible claims your loved one might have against those responsible. Act quickly whenever you suspect any kind of abuse or neglect as the time period to bring suits for these kinds of cases can be very short. There is no benefit to waiting. If a loved one has suffered injury as the result of abuse or neglect, our attorneys will pursue all available remedies from owners, administrators and staff.
Contact Us
Ingrid M. Evans represents victims of nursing home abuse and neglect in Marin County and throughout California. Call Ingrid today at (415) 441-8669, or by email at <a href=”mailto:info@evanslaw.com”>info@evanslaw.com</a>. Our toll-free number is 1-888-50EVANS (888-503-8267). Ingrid will pursue all available remedies for injured seniors including recovery of attorneys’ fees and expenses for bringing your lawsuit.
[1] Evans Law Firm, Inc. was not involved in the case in any way.
